Elaeagia maguirei var. pubens Steyerm.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett. 1965. The Botany of the Guayana Highland. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 12 (3): 1-285.
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Family
Rubiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Tree 10 m high, calyx yellow-green, corolla and fllaments white; tall forest in drainage of Rio Aponguao, vicinity of k m 143 south of El Dorado, northeast of Luepa at 800-1200 m alt, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela, 6-11 Mar 1962, J. A. Steyermark d L. Aristeguieta 102 (holotype VEN). Known only from the type locality.
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Stipulae extus dense hispidulae; foliorum lamina subtus manifeste pubescenti, costa media nervis lateralibusque subtus pilis patentibus numerosis hispidulis instructis, nervulis tertiariis minute pilosulus, superficie subtus papillato-rugosa; hypanthio 0.6 mm alto arceolato extus hispidulo; calyce 0.8-0.9 mm alto apiee 5-repando-denticulato, lobis late deltoideo-triangularibus; inflorescentia 5-6 cm longe pedunculata, pedunculo dense hispidulo; floribus sessilibus solitariis vel plerumque 2-5-fasciculatis; corolla 3.8 mm longa, tubo 1.8 mm longo.
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Discussion
From the pubescent variation of Elaeagia karstenii f. hispidida Standi. & Steyerm., E. meiguirei var. pubens is distinguished by the glomerulate sessile or subsessile flowers, repand instead of prominently lobed calyx, corolla-lobes about equaling instead of longer than the corolla-tube, shorter and more strongly pubescent (hirtellous) capsules, shorter stipules, and by the strongly papillateasperulous instead of conspicuously reticulate lower surface of the leaf-blades. In specimens from British Guiana and Venezuela there is some variation in var. maguirei as to degrees of pubescence and papillosity on the lower leafsurface. Some specimens exhibit a stronger degree of papillosity and white punctateness, together with a greater amount of spreading pubescence along the midrib of the lower leaf-surface, than others. Others show a denser, more spreading, hirtellous pubescence on the peduncles and lower part of the rachis than do others. In general, var. maguirei has the peduncle appressed-puberulous and the main rachis minutely hirtellous to subspreading-pubescent on the upper branches, and the lower leaf-surface beneath has usually conspicuous papillate or raised, puncticulate, white areas, with only few spreading hairs along the lower midrib and lateral axils. In var. pubens the papillae on the lower leaf-surf ace produce hairs more abundantly at their tips, the midrib and lateral nerves have a denser hispidulous pubescence, the entire length of the peduncle and rachis, and branches of the inflorescence are densely hirtellous with a more spreading pubescence, and the corolla is shorter.